Drive or Fly: Chattanooga, TN to Rocky Top, TN?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for CHA–TYS. At 112 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 30m

Distance

112.2 mi

Total Cost

$60

CO2

45 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$25

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 6m

12m in the air

Air Distance

104 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

26 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Chattanooga, TN → CHA 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TYS → Rocky Top, TN 44m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Chattanooga, TN CHA — Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (Lovell Field) 6 mi, ~10m drive

Rocky Top, TN TYS — McGhee Tyson Airport 30 mi, ~44m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CHA and TYS. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 9m

1h on road

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Greyhound US0110

Door-to-Door Timeline

Chattanooga, TN → Athens (Exxon) (ATS6) 71m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 60m

Arrival 10m

Knoxville Area Transit Bus Stop (KNO6) → Rocky Top, TN 33m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $6) $6

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From ATS6 — Athens (Exxon) 47 mi, ~71m drive

To KNO6 — Knoxville Area Transit Bus Stop 22 mi, ~33m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 30m	3h 6m	3h 9m
Total cost (1 person)	$60	$124	$6
Carbon footprint	45 kg CO₂	26 kg CO₂	3 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

112.2 mi 2h 30m

via US 27, US 27; US 70, SR 61

Alternative (+4 min)

125.2 mi 2h 34m

via I 75, US 25W, SR 170

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Chattanooga, TN to Rocky Top, TN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.